E 





Glass. 
Book 






STATE OF NEW YORK 



REPORT 



OF THE 



Plattsburgh Centenary 
Commission 



TRANSMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE APRIL 11, 1917 






ALBANY 

J. B. LYON COMPANY, PRINTERS 

1917 




« s 



STATE OF NEW YORK 



\ 



REPORT 



OF THE 



Plattsburgh Centenary 
Commission 



TRANSMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE APRIL 11, 1917 



ALBANY 

J. B. LYON COMPANY, PRINTERS 

1917 






D, of D. 
MAY 15 1917 



<.^-^ 



^ 



State of New York 



No. 60 



IN senate: 



Ai'HII. 11. 1!»1T 



Report of Plattsburgh Centenary 
Commission 



Ti) ihc Lf'fiishifiirr of tiw Stuff' of Xfir York: 

Under chapters 730 and 828 of the Laws of lOlo and chaj^ter 
95 of the Laws of 1914- the Plattsburgh ('eiitenarv Coininissioii 
was created and organized to " provide for the celebration of the 
centenary of the battle of Plattsburgh " and '' bv itself, or in co- 
operation with the government of the United States to provide for, 
erect and establish a suitable niemorinl to Tbouias ^facdonough 
in the city of Plattsburgh, ^e\\ York." 

An appropriation of $1::?5,()()0 bv tbc Legislature of the St;ite 
of Xew York April 3, 191-1:, under chapter {);") of the laws of that 
year for the purposes outlined above was followed July 31, 1914, 
by an appropriation of an equal amount by Congress " to aid in 
constructing at Plattsburgh a fitting, perniiinent uieuiorial of the 
victory of Macdonough and Macondi." 

THE CELEBRATION 

The members of your Commission arranged that September (> 

to 11, 1914, should be the dates for the celebration and proceeded 

in the belief that a celebration of this event should be so planned 

and carried out as to enable as many as possible to take active part 



4 [^Senate, 

in the ceremonies ; that it should appeal to people in all walks of 
life, young and old, rich and poor, grave and gay. The battle 
was fought and won by people from all walks of life, laboring men, 
farmers, ministers and priests, merchants, manufacturers, profes- 
sional men and at least one member of Congress fighting shoulder 
to shoulder. There were lads of eighteen and under; there were 
gray-haired veterans of the Kevolutiou. Few had uniforms. 
More than half of the men who won the battle of Plattsburgh were 
residents of the Champlain valley. 

Accordingly, the following program was arranged and carried 
out to the letter: 

Peace Day 
Sunday, September Qth 
Forenoon 

Services in the churches in the city and at the Catholic 
Summer School of America at Cliff Haven. 

Afternoon 

3.30 1'. M. Popular patriotic mass meeting, pageant field, 
Plattsburgh barracks. Addresses and patriotic songs, led 
by chorus of 400 voices and by bands of the First Brigade, 
U. S. A. 

Evening 

7.30 v. M. Services in the churches appropriate to occa- 
sion. 

8.45 p. M. Sacred concerts by several bands, throughout 
city. 

Labok Day 

Monday, September 7th 
Forenoon 

Parade of labor organizations, under the auspices of Trades 
and Labor Assembly of Plattsburgh. 

Afternoon 

1.30 V. M, Address at Clinton county fair grounds by 
Hon. Samuel Gompers, President American Federation of 
Labor. 



;{.00 J*. M, Program of horse racos, foot races, niotorcyi-le 
races, jumping contests, tug-of-war and oilier sj)orts, Clinton 
county fair gronmls. Trap shooting tournament on the 
grounds of Phittshurgli luxl and (luii (Muh, Oak street and 
Bovnton avenue. 

N'lOKUKXNKs Day 
Tiicsdai/, Srpfpiiihrr S/// 
III Vergennes, Vt. 

Celebration of the building of Macdonough's Heet. 

/;/ Pldttsburgh 

Trap-shooting tournament (Continuecl ). 

Evening 

8.00 J*. .M. First performance of the Historical Pageant 
of the Champiain Valley on Pageant Field, Plattsburgh bar- 
racks, under the direction of Margaret Maclaren Eager, with 
1,200 particiyjants, chorus of 400 voices and Doring's band of 
Troy, X. y. (40 pieces). 

^Iacoaib Day 
\\'('<hi<'.sday, iSeptemher \)tli 
F or f noon 

10.00 A. M. Military parade of First Brigade, U. S. A., 
and of war strength company, Xew York Infantry, National 
Guard. 

Afternoon 

fi.OO p. M. First daylight performance of Historical Pa- 
geant of the Champlain Valley. 

8.00 p. M. Parade of floats, etc., portraying progress of 
agriculture and husbandry in the Champlain valley, under 
auspices Pomona Grange of Clinton county, X. Y. 

9.00 p. M. Fireworks display on island at mouth of Sara- 
nac river after agricultural parade. Band concerts. 



[Senate, 

Macdonough Day 

Tliiirsdatf, September lOtli 
Forenoon 

9.^0 A. .M. to 1.00 1'. .M. Exercises ut Fort Moreau and 
Riverside cemetery. Addresses by Col. Charles G. Morton, 
U. S. A., at Fort Morean, and by Sir Charles P. Davidson 
and Hon. Hamilton Wright Mabie in Riverside cemetery. 

11.30 A. ^J. Twenty-sixth ammal meeting and rennion 
Clinton County Union Veterans' Associati(m, Maccabee hall, 
Margaret street, opposite Witherill hotel. 

Evening 

S.OO p. -M. Performance of Historical Pageant of the 
Champlain V<illey. 

Centennial Day 
Friday, Sepfemher 11 /A 
Forenoon 

10.00 A. M. Final ])erformance, Pageant of the Champlain 
Valley. 

Afternoon 

2.00 p. M. Pageant Field: Addresses by Hon. Joseplms 
Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, and Governor Martin H. 
Glynn of l^ew York. Historical address by Dr. John JNI. 
Thomas, President of Middlebnry College. Historical poem, 
by Percy Mackaye. 

Eveiiinr/ 

7.00 J'. .\i. Diim.er, Hotel Cham[)lain. with songs and 
speeches. 

S.OO p. M. "Ron Soir '■ parade; "military" maneuvers 
by citizen volunteers, mock siege, shnm lintth^ and '' capture " 
of Plattsburgh. 

0.00 p. M. IkiikI c(mcert. 



Xo. «0] 7 

The celebration, appropriate, adequate and successful in cverv 
way and well within the limit as to cost set bv (ioveriior (Uynn, 
having passed into history, the members of the Commission at 
once set about the work of forniulatiuii- ])l;iiis for nii appro|)ri;itc, 
permanent memorial. 

HEARTY CO-OPERATION IN PLANNING PERMANENT 

MEMORIAL 

A preliminary investigation ])r()ught out the possibility of em- 
bodying plans for a new city hall (for tlie construction of which 
the late Loyal L. Smith had left the sum of $200,000 to the city 
of Plattsburgh) with the plans for the monument commcniorating 
the victory of the Americau forces in the batth of Plattsbui-gh in 
one comprehensive plan which would greatly enhance the ini])r(\s- 
siveness of each structure, and work was begun and patiently hut 
persistently continued to complete success along these lines. The 
people of Plattslmrgh, displaying the same s|)irit tliat had aided so 
much in the success of the celebration and which has since helped 
wonderfully towards the success of the military training camp 
idea, voted to bond the city to the limit to ])urchase the magnifi- 
cent site agreed upon for the city hall. This municij)al building 
will be a model of good taste, a triumph of architecture, harmoniz- 
ing with the monument which the State and nation are to erect 
nearby. 

The spaciou.s grounds which will surround the new city liall, 
comprise the greater part of a very large city block, just north 
of Trinity park, while the battle monument will be at the crest 
of the slope extending in front of the city hall down to the Saranac 
river, affording a fine view of the moniTment from every direction 
— from the lake steamers, the railroad i)assenger trains, the 
main-traveled automobile route, through the city and from the 
trolley. The site of the proposed monument commands a perfect 
view of the scene of the naval battle and is itself one of the points 
where some of the sharpest fighting occurred between the land 
forces. 



8 [SexVate, 

Uaihraii Company Offers Aid and Private Citizens Donate Valu'- 

able Land 

After tluH cxcellout arrant^ement had been worked uut and 
ai-reed upon it was proposed to your Commission that if the State 
wouhl purchase all the land between River street and the Saranac 
river, be«;inning at the foot of Court street and extending north- 
erly to the right of way of the Delaware and Hudson railway, the 
railway company would construct, at their own expense, an under- 
j)ass under their track, Hon. Smith M. Weed and others would 
deed to the State all the land between Cumberland avenue and 
the Saranac river from the Delaware and Hudson right of way 
to Champlain park on the shore of Lake Champlain at the mouth , 
of the Saranac river, making one continuous public park and 
parkway from the Clinton county courthouse on Margaret street 
along- the westerly bank of the Saranac river and western shore 
of Lake Champlain to a point beyond the Champlain monument 
— a distance of nearly one-half mile, thus guaranteeing for all 
time an unobstructed view of the monument from every direction 
and a magnificent lake and river park as an inspiring permanent 
setting for it. 

To make the plan ideal, Mr. William H. Miner, of Chazy, 
X. Y., moved by the spirit of enthusiastic co-operation which 
had actuated all in helping to bring about this glorious result, 
jjurchased the famous Delord mansion and grounds, comprising 
some six acres located just north of this monument park and will 
present it to the public for use as a historical museum in which 
to preserve and exhibit relics of the battle and of pioneer days 
in the Champlain valley. 

Your Commission, after careful personal investigation on the 
part of nearly every member, voted unanimously to purchase the 
eleven parcels of land necessary to ensure the success of the plan. 
We were compelled to resort to condemnation proceedings in ac- 
quiring eight of the eleven parcels. 

Thus by cordial and hearty co-operation, wise planning, care 
and economy in the expenditure of the public funds, the State of 
T^ew York is assured a commemoration of one of the great events 
in its history immeasurably more impressive than was deemed pos- 
sible when the appropriation was made by the Legislature of 1914, 



Xo. (JO I <) 

Selecting cm Architect 

After many coiiferonces with Gen. William 11. Black and Major 
M. J. McDonoiifih of the U. S, Engineers Corps, representing the 
War Department, and after a careful investigation of the situa- 
tion, including a competitive exliibit of i)hotographs, paintings 
and drawings of samples of wt)rk of twenty of the leading lirms 
of architects in this country, the members of your Commission 
and the representatives of the War Department were unanimous 
in selecting Mr. John Ivussell Po})e of New York City as the 
architect to design the monument. Mr. Pope was later on selected 
to design the new city hall and he will also have charge of the 
landscape work on the grounds surrounding both city hall and 
monument. 

The monimient will be 20 feet square at the base, 12 feet squai-e 
at the top and 120 feet high, built of limestone or granite, sur- 
mounted by a large bronze American eagle with outstretched 
wangs, as though alighting after a long flight, conveying the 
thought that this Republic which for a quarter of a century fol- 
lowing the close of the Revolutionary war had been little more 
than a group of separate, struggling states, had been finally welded 
together by the war of 1812 (brought to a successful ending by the 
battle of Plattsburgh), into a strong, determined nation — an in- 
dissoluble union of states — the United States of America ! The 
indomitable spirit of American pioneers — represented by the 
freedom-loving eagle — which had impelled them to seek new 
homes in a strange land beyond the seas, after struggling here in 
America for three long decades or more, had now found perma- 
nence, safety and peace. 

The Eagle had alighted. 

Econom ical Administration 
N^ot only is no member of this Commission receiving any salary 
or compensation in this coimection — there are no paid officials, 
secretaries or clerks, not even a stenographer since December o 1 . 
1914. 



10 [Sea'ate, 

In view of the work done and the results obtained, we feel 
entirely justified in recommending that a final appropriation of 
$25,000 be made this year for the following purposes: 

1. Expenses of Commissioners $2,000 00 

2. Marking historic spots in connection with battle 

of Plattsburgh, by suitable tablets 1,500 00 

o. Filling in and grading grounds about monu- 
ment, including retaining wall along river. . 20,000 00 
4. Final dedicatory ceremonies, when it is hoped 
to have addresses by President, Governor and 
others ' 1,500 00 



Total $25,000 00 



This will make the total amount appropriated for the memorial 
in honor of Macdonough's victory at Plattsburgh $150,000 — 
just equalling the sum voted by this State for a similar memorial 
in honor of Perry's victory at Put-in-Bay, Ohio, under chapter 
190 of the Laws of 1913. 

Financial Report 

Report of moneys received, dis;bursed and on hand by the Platts- 
burgh Centenary Commission from the date of its organization, 
Septeni1)pr 17, 19in, to March 2-1, 1917: 

Receipts 
From State Treasurer, appropriation, cliapter 

730, Laws of 1913 $5. (»()0 00 

From State Treasurer, appropriation, chapter 

95. Laws of 1914 12.i. 000 (M» 

From Harrington Porter, refund of charges. ... 1 70 

From X. Y. C. & H. R. R.. refund of charges 

National Guard 10 48 

— ■ $1:^0.012 18 

Disbursements 
For Administration: 
Sahiries, Ass't Sec'y. l*uh. Director 

and Stenographer $5, 202 85 

Kxpenses of memhers and officers 

of Commission 14, 183 68 

$19,386 53 

For Celebration: 

Pageant, including band $20, 272 42 

Poems and addresses, etc 460 00 

National Guard 4, 715 27 



^N'o. 69] 11 

Decorations $:{,.') 1 (J 7;{ 

Badges, medals and souvenirs 2, 348 00 

Photographs and moving pictures . . 450 00 

Fireworks 1, 500 00 

Hotel bill, Commissioners and guests 

during celebration 5, 368 33 

" Siege of Plattsburgh " parade 280 71 

Vocal music, Mendelsohn Club of 

Albany, expenses, sheet music, etc. 803 50 
Agriculture Day exhibit and parade 3, 286 47 
Labor Day ceremonies, parade and 

sports 4, 997 37 

.$47.!mS 8(1 

For Permanent Memorial: 

Land for site for monument $59, 753 44 

Condemnation Commissioners' fees 

and expenses 148 65 

Attorneys' fees, costs, and expenses . 567 80 

Stenographers' fees 145 38 

Title searches 1, 671 64 

Surveying 86 30 

County Clerk's fees, recording 29 59 

— ■ 62,402 80 

$129,788 13 

Balance on hand $224 05 

Tlie foregoing is respectfully submitted. 

Thomas F. Conway, Chairman, 

Henky W. Hill, Vice-Chairman, 

James A. Foley, Chairmari Executive Committee, 

LoREN H. White, Treasurer, 

Charles J. Vert, Secretary, 

Franklin D. Roosevelt, 

Henry Harmon Noble, 

Irving I, Goldsmith, 

Henry M. Sage, 

James A. Emerson, 

John F. Healy, 

Rev. John P, Chidwick, 

Salvatore a. Cotillo, 

Howard D. Hadley, 

John Dorst, Jr., 

Alexander W. Fairbank, M. D., 

Joseph H. Esquirol, 

Frederick E. "Wadiiams. 

Albany, N. Y., April 11, 1917. 



^ Caylord Bros. 

< Makers 

Syracuse, N . Y. 

PftI.ttK.2l. IMS 



m LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




